Liquid soap dispenser



Nov. 7, 1950 G. R. BARKSDALE LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed May 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. G. ROY BAR/(5014A E ATTORNEX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. R. BARKSDALE LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Nov. 7, 1950 Filed May 6, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a liquid soap dispenser designed to provide a positive and reliable liquidsoap dispensing action.

Th convenience and advantages of the use of liquid soap have been appreciated for a long time and a variety of liquid soap dispensers have been designed and are in common use. It is well known, however, that many of the dispensers in use are erratic in operation. This erratic operation generally is the result of th tendency of liquid soap to gel or solidify. The liquid soap commonly used, because it is least expensive, is a water solution of solid soap such as commonly is used in the form of bars, flakes or powders. the soap solution is sufficiently concentrated to give a good detergent action when applied in small amounts, it tends to gelatinize on standing and especially when cooled or when a portion of the solvent is permitted to evaporate. If the soap solution is diluted to avoid this tendency to gelatinize, its detergent action is not satisfactory. The'addition of a solvent such as alcohol to the soap solution effectively prevents gelatinization at adequate concentration, but such solvents are expensive and, moreover, tend to be lost by evaporation. Also, in the gravity-feed type of dispenser, thesoap will not flow or feed without a vent in the reservoir, and a vent accelerates evaporation of the solvent with a consequent thickening of the soap.

The present invention avoids the difficulties referred to by providing a liquid soap dispenser in which the liquid soap is discharged under pressure. Dependence upon gravity flow of the soap solution is eliminated.

In accordance with my invention, the liquid soap is held in a reservoir and discharged therefrom under gas pressure which may be sumcient to force the flow of liquid soap which may have gelatinized to the consistency of soft soap.

Under certain. circumstances itmay be desirable or convenient to charge the reservoir with gas under pressure. from an outside source and I have provided one embodiment of my soap dispenser. which is designed to be supplied withgas under pressure exclusively from an outside source. The other and preferred embodiments of my invention are designed tohave gas under pressure supplied by their; own operationas well as from an outside source, if desired; In these arrangements, the operation of a single reciprocating plunger or' member-serves both to pump gas into the reservoir and torelease'or dispense soap from the reservoir.

The embodiments referred to are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, of a liquid soap dispenser designed to be supplied with gas under pressure from an outside source and also to provide its own supply of gas under pressure.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, of a simplified modification of the dispenser of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, of a liquid soap dispenser designed to voir 3 has a top opening for filling it with soapsolution which normally is closed by the screwcap I. This cap is provided with an air valve 8 which preferably is identical with the airvalve" of a penumatic automobile tire, and the valve is provided with the usual cap 8a.

The body I is provided with a main cylindrical bore comprising portions of different diameters constituting an air valve chamber, a liquid soapvalve chamber, and a pump chamber. A relatively small bore 9 in the body connects the pump chamber with the pipe It which extends upwardly into the reservoir 3. Reverse flow through the bore 9 and pipe H3 is prevented by the ball check valve I I. Another relatively small bore l2. connects the bottom of the reservoir 3 with a front portion of the main bore in'the body l. Flow of liquid soap through the bore I2 is normally prevented by the poppet valve l3 which is urged toward its seat by the spring I4 which is held in position by screw-cap Ma.

The main bore of the body I contains the piston l5 which may be manually pushed to the left by the rod It and is returned to its initial or rest position by the spring IT. The rod I6 is slidable in the fluid tight bearing and closure for the end of the bore formed by the screw-cap l8, packing or washer I9 and packing retaining nut 20. The 7 25 of the spool 24' 3 its seat, and for this purpose the front edge of flange 25 may be beveled as shown. The annular channel around the spool 24 between the flanges 25 and 29 provides a passage-way for the liquid soap from the valve I3 to the discharge orifice 21.

In the other end of the main bore in the body I is the air inlet and relief valve assembly comprising the valve sleeve 28 having a reduced inner end providing a shoulder adapted to engage an opposed shoulder in the wall of the bore with a packing ring 29 interposed. The inner end of sleeve 28 forms a seat for packing ring 38 on the head 3| of a poppet valve. The sleeve 28 and its ring 29 are urged toward seating position by the heavy spring 32 one end of which bears against the screw-threaded retaining washer or plug 33. The poppet valve head 3| has a stem 34 extending into sleeve 28, and the relatively light spring 35 is held on the stem by the retaining nut 36 slidably mounted in the. sleeve 28. One or more breathing orifices 31 are provided in the wall of sleeve 28.

The operation of the above described embodiment is as follows: The reservoir 3 is partly filled with liquid soap. The valve 8 may be used for the introduction of gas under pressure so that the dispenser will be ready for full operation upon the first movement of the plunger I8. This, however, is not necessary because the dispenser may be brought to operating pressure by a few movements of the plunger I6. Movement of the piston I to the left forces air from the cylinder which contains the spring I'I through the bore 9, pipe to check valve I I and creates a pressure in the reservoir I, which pressure forces the liquid soap through the bore I2, the valve I3 (now opened by the leftward movement of the flange and the annular channel around the spool 24 to the outlet 2'1. During the leftward movement of the piston I5 the valves 29 and are closed. When the plunger is released the piston is moved to the right by spring I I creating a partial vacuum in the bore and causing the valve 30- to open, thus admitting air to the cylinder 1 which -contains the spring I1, and the mechaat the end of the travel. Thus, it is possible to operate the pump to build up the pressure without releasing the soap.

The air pump is designed to deliver a considerably greater volume of air than the volume of soap discharged from the dispenser so as to quickly build up an operating pressure in the reservoir 3. In order to prevent the building up of such a high pressure in the reservoir as might explode the reservoir and render operation of the piston I5 too difficult, I have provided the pressure relief valve 29 which opens when a predetermined pressure is built up in the reservoir. The tension on the spring 32 may be regulated by movement of the screw-threaded plug or washer 33 and thus the maximum pressure attainable in the reservoir 3 may be determined,

The dispenser of Figure 2 is similar in principle to" that of Figure 1 but the mechanism is somewhat simplified. In this embodiment the upper end of the bore 39 (corresponding to the bore 9 of Figure 1) forms the seat for the ball 40 replacing the valve I I at the upper end of the pipe I0. In this embodiment the air inlet and pressure relief valves of the dispenser of Figure 1 are replaced by the San check valve 4|. In this 7 4 embodiment the valve I3 of Figure 1 is omitted and flow of liquid soap through the bore 42 is controlled by the air piston. In Figure 2 the large cylindrical bore in the body I is of uniform diameter and is permanently closed at the left hand end. The piston consists of the spaced apart flanges 43 and 44 and the .intermediate packing 45 which, as stated, normally closes the lower end of the bore 42. When the piston is moved forward or to the left it clears the end of the bore 42 and liquid soap is permitted to flow from the reservoir 3 through the bore 42, the chamber 46 and the outlet 41. A novel feature of this embodiment is the latch for holding the piston in forward position provided by the pin 48 extending inwardly from the Wall of the chamber 48 and the eccentric washer 49 carried on the piston rod I6. In the position illustrated the washer 49 clears the pin 48 but when the piston is pushed forward and rotated 180 and released the washer 49 will engage the'pin 48 and hold the piston in forward position, against the pressure of the spring I'I, permitting a pro-v tracted flow of the liquid soap through the bore 42.

The showing of the top of the reservoir 3 has been omitted in Figure 2 because it may be identical with Figure 1, i. e., it may have a filling opening covered by a cap 8 provided with a gas valve 9, which latter may be omitted. In this embodiment I have also provided for the admission of gas under pressure from an outside source by providing the outlet 4'! in the form of a screwthreaded nipple to which the hose of an air pump may be attached. This may be used not only for charging the reservoir with gas under pressure but also for cleaning the dispenser.

It will be noted that the embodiment of Figure 2 lacks the safety feature of the embodiment of Figure 1, i. e., the means for preventing the accumulation of excessive pressure in the reservoir. the embodiment of Figure 1 may be replaced by a safety valve. 7

In both Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that the valve controlling the flow of liquid soap to the discharge orifice is not opened until the plunger is near the end of its stroke. Thus, by operating the plunger with short strokes, it is. possible to build up the pressure in the reservoir before opening the discharge valve.

The embodiment of Figure 3 is still further simplified in its construction and operation. This embodiment may operate by gas under pressure supplied from an outside source through valve 8 as in the embodiment of Figure 1 or through the outlet 59 which is similarrto the outlet 41 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 the body I is provided with the chamber or socket 50 which communicates with the reservoir 3 through the opening 5| in the diaphragm 52. Chamber 50 communicates with a second chamber 53 through the bore 54 controlled by the valve 55. Chamber 53 contains the spring 56 which bears against the flange 51 on the push rod 58 and tends to hold it in rest position. The rod 58 when pushed forward engages the core of the valve and opens the Valve permitting liquid soap to flow from the reservoir 3 through the hole 5I, the

chamber 50, the bore 54, the chamber 53 and the outlet 59.

A novel feature of this embodiment is the pin 60 extending inwardly from the wall of the chamber 53 and adapted to engage the flange 51 or to" However, if desired, the gas valve of permit a cut away portion of the flange 51 (not shown) to pass. Thus the rod 58 may be pushed forward to open the valve 55 and turned so that the flange 51 engages the pin 60 and the valve is held as long as desired in open position. In this embodiment, as stated, gas under pressure must be supplied from an outside source. It may be supplied through a valve 8 similar to that of Figure 1 or through the outlet 59, or both, and, as stated in connection with Figure 2, the reservoir may be provided with a safety valve in place of the gas inlet valve. The diaphragm 52 is not essential and may be omitted if desired.

The arrangement of Figure 1 may be provided with a threaded discharge nipple like that shown at 4! of Figure 2, or at 59 of Figure 3 by which compressed air may be admitted from an outside source.

While I have shown and described three different forms of my dispenser, various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser comprising a supporting base, a reservoir supported on and above said base, a liquid tight closure at the top of said reservoir for the introduction of liquid therein, means including a valve controlled inlet to said reservoir carried by said closure at the top of said reservoir for introducing a gas under pressure into said reservoir to establish and maintain a superatmospheric pressure therein, said base having a downwardly directed discharge orifice connected by a passageway to the interior of said reservoir, a normally closed Valve in said passageway, a plunger mounted for reciprocation in said base on a horizontal axis and adjacent said discharge orifice, spring means normally urging said plunger outwardly of said base, and means controlled by said plunger near the end of its forward stroke for opening said valve and thereby releasing liquid from said reservoir.

2. A liquid dispenser comprising a fluid tight reservoir, a cylinder associated with said reservoir and being closed at both ends, a piston in said cylinder, a rod connected to said piston for moving said piston in said cylinder and extending through one closed end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said reservoir to said cylinder on the opposite side of said piston with respect to said rod, a check valve in said conduit permitting flow of gas from the cylinder to the reservoir but preventing reverse flow, a second conduit connecting the bottom of said reservoir with said cylinder on the other side of said piston, and a valve for admitting gas from an outside source into said cylinder but preventing return flow.

3. A liquid dispenser as defined in claim 2 in which the conduit connecting the bottom of the reservoir with the cylinder is controlled by a normally closed valve adapted to be opened by forward movement of the piston.

4. A liquid dispenser as defined in claim 2 in which the outlet of the conduit connecting the bottom of the reservoir with the cylinder is closed by the piston in its retracted position and is unobstructed by the piston in its forward position.

5. A liquid dispenser as defined in claim 2 comprising means associated with the piston rod for locking the piston in its forward position.

6. A liquid dispenser as defined in claim 2 comprising a conduit communicating between the atmosphere and said cylinder, said conduit being normally closed by a valve held in closed position by resilient means, and means for varying the pressure exerted on said valve by said resilient means.

'7. A liquid dispenser comprising, a supporting base having a screw-threaded socket on the upper part thereof, a reservoir supported upon said base by a screw-threaded neck portion formed at the bottom thereof and having threaded engagement with said socket, an air pump embodied in said base and comprising a cylindrical chamber closed at both ends and arranged on a horizontal axis below said neck portion; a plunger mounted for reciprocation in one end of said chamber and having a piston secured to the end thereof, a passageway for conducting compressed air from the other end of said cylinder to said reservoir through said neck portion and including a check valve to prevent reverse flow through said passageway, a downwardly directed discharge orifice connected to said one end of said cylinder, a discharge passageway connecting said neck portion with the said one end of said cylinder, a normally closed valve in said discharge passageway, and means operated by said plunger near the end of its inward stroke for opening said discharge valve.

GEORGE ROY BARKSDALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 632,801 Brooks Sept. 12, 1890 693,341 Walker Feb. 11, 1902 847,722 Bender Mar. 19, 1907 1,403,911 Myles Jan. 17, 1922 1,749,216 Goldman Mar. 4, 1930 2,083,704 Hall et al June 15, 1937 2,327,285 Opitz Aug. 17, 1943 

